A tourist in Italy has been caught on CCTV breaking the toe off of a 200 year-old statue and then walking away.

The incident took place at the Gypsotheca Antonio Canova museum in Possagno, Italy. The damaged statue is the 19th century Paolina Borghese Bonaparte as Venus Victrix by Antonio Canova.

Police have confirmed the man is a 50 year-old tourist from Austria. The damage was done while he sat down on the plinth, leaning into the statue to have his picture taken.

And while he did not alert staff at the time, it has now been revealed that he came forward after footage was released online.

He had previously been identified by museum staff who took contact details of visitors as part of coronavirus measures and when contacted by the police is alleged to have said it was a 'stupid move’.

Canova was a sculptor who lived from 1757 to 1822 and was well known for his marble statues.

He worked on the Paolina Borghese Bonaparte as Venus Victrix from 1805-1808.